Leather edge finish is applied to the cutting edges of leather for protection or for fashion reasons. The fibre structure of leather is clearly visible in cutting edges. This open fibre structure can soil easily and moisture can penetrate.
It is possible to apply edge protection manually but the work needs to be done very precisely to get an even result. The application is done with brushes or sponges. The variance of the covering ranges from a light colouration to a strong coating.
Is it difficult to seal the edge?
It just takes time and effort to polish.
Maybe every time you polish it, it seems that your body is hollowed out, but you still can't achieve the desired effect.
So let's talk about it today, what should a good edge banding effect be?
The so-called vegetable tanned leather edge banding is to fill the fibers with different auxiliary agents, and cooperate with the repeated grinding of tools to make the leather edge more beautiful and durable.
In the process of playing with leather, you will be more or less amazed by the effect of some leather edge treatments.
A picture I recently collected is a handmade leather craftsman from abroad
Their edge treatments all have one thing in common: natural, translucent, and retain the true texture of leather.
"After seeing so many excellent leather edges, I still can't seal one edge." If you still feel this way, it is a matter of method.
So today I mainly share two operations: hot wax edge sealing and Japanese edge sealing.
Hot wax edge sealing
The essence of hot wax edge sealing lies in the edging wax. Edging wax is different from line wax and paraffin wax such as candles. The main component is vegetable wax, which is harder than line wax and softer than petroleum wax products (such as candles). The effect of combining with vegetable tanned leather is the best of the three waxes.
Due to the blessing of hard vegetable wax, the edge of the leather after waxing will be relatively hard.
There is also a hot wax pressing groove in conjunction with hot wax edge sealing: first rub a thin layer of wax on the leather edge, heat the edge ironing machine, the temperature should not be too high, and press out a dark shallow groove on the leather edge. There are obvious differences in the inner and outer areas of the groove line. The edge part is darker in color, more oily and shiny, and the three-dimensional effect is more obvious.
Japanese edge banding
Made of Japanese leather goods, it mainly highlights the natural characteristics of leather materials. Japanese-style leather goods generally tend to have a heavy texture. When we choose edge trimming, we will choose edge trimming knives of different specifications according to the thickness of the leather. Therefore, in the leather edge treatment process of Japanese-style leather goods, an ultra-wide edge beveling knife is used on the leather surface to cut as much as possible of the grain layer of the leather surface while keeping the thickness of the edge small. Makes the edges more rounded, showing a bright, delicate effect.
When trimming, it is best to use a trimming knife that can achieve straight cutting, but in the absence of such tools, ordinary trimming knives can also be achieved, but it will take a relatively long time.
Wuta's newly launched No. 4 edge beveling knife has a maximum cutting width of 2mm. After chamfering, it can also achieve the same effect with grinding with sand bars or sandpaper.
Water-based edge banding fluid can be mixed with water to enhance penetration when used. After penetrating into the interior of the leather fibers, the fibers are bonded tightly, and then the fibers are smoothed through repeated vigorous grinding, and the unevenness of the leather edge is smoothed by sanding. This is not a unique processing method of Japanese edge banding, and it is generally applicable to any edge banding method.
Whether it is cotton cloth or leather edge burnisher slicker, their function is also to sand and tighten the fibers. The important thing is whether you use it smoothly or not.
The treatment of the leather surface and leather bottom also has a certain influence on the edge banding effect. Use mink oil, ox horn oil, palm oil, etc. on the leather surface to increase the leather oil, and use a bed surface treatment agent on the bottom of the leather to make the fibers of the leather bottom smooth and compact, so as to supplement the properties of the fiber and oil of the whole piece of leather, and finally seal the edge. Results will also vary.
Japanese edge banding can also be waxed on the edge after treatment. Waxing is only an optional means of deepening the effect of leather edges.
The edge banding effect of different vegetable tanned leather materials also depends on various factors such as the amount of oil in the leather and the tightness of the fibers. For example, Tochime in Japan, simple polishing with water can produce the effect. For example, mist wax leather does not need to be waxed. The white mist wax on the surface can make three-dimensional dark curved edges after hot pressing; , wax, etc., it is difficult to make a firm and smooth effect, and the deformation will still be deformed.
The difference in style is reflected in the external perception, and the difference in edge banding is more reflected in the slight difference in level, such as the color of the leather edge after edge banding, the arrangement of fibers, etc. In the matter of edge banding, what style you want to do is just what you like, and you don't need to be too entangled and blindly follow the trend.
But for the pursuit of the edge banding effect, I believe that everyone is the same, that is, smooth, delicate, and shiny arc leather edges. Deliberately trying to keep the roughness of the leather edge untouched is another matter.
Of course, it does not mean that the method we introduced is the best, and there is no immutable law. Handmade things, anyway: try more and do more, that's right. Innovation is always needed.
If you have any original experience related to handmade leather crafts, welcome to share with us.